National Robotics Initiative

12.8: news.adds/robotics/NRI(National Robotics Initiative):

2011.6: President Obama launches NRI:
. the National Robotics Initiative
is funding the development of co-robots .
goals:

. the development and use of co-robots,
defined as robots that are co.workers;
ie, serving as member of in a team with employees,
or helping the physically or mentally impaired
-- in a symbiotic relationship with humans .
. supporters of co-robot development include:
National Science Foundation (NSF),
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
National Institutes of Health (NIH),
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
. this program develops co-robots,
the next generation of robotics,
to advance the capability and usability
of such systems and artifacts,
and to encourage existing and new communities
to focus on innovative application areas.
It will address the entire life cycle
from fundamental research and development
to manufacturing and deployment.
. important parts of this initiative include
the establishment and infusion of robotics
in educational curricula and research
to gain a better understanding of the long term
social, behavioral and economic implications
of using co-robots across all areas of human activity .